Distributor



Dec. 30, 1947. K. A. HARMON DISTRIBUTOR Filed May 22, 1946 w M. w 1 f H J f .2, w /f PN d 2 v0 iff ITJ 7 J MMA/0J y M .0 1 d 1 j ^,7 W4 w 1 mm frrmm||4 l E [MWL Arm/v Patented Dec. 30, 1947 DISTRIBUTOR Kenneth A. Harmon, Longmeadow, Mass., assignor to Wico Electric Company, West Springlield, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application May 22, 1946, Serial lNo. 671,429

Claims. (Cl. 20G-24) This invention relates to improvements in distributors.

The invention is also an improvement in that disclosed in my copending application led May 3, 1946, under Serial No. 667,069.

In common with the invention oi" said application, the present invention provides a distributor in which the rotatable electrode is mounted for universal movement, within ample limits, on the member which supports and drives it, and guiding means are provided to compel the active face of the movablel electrode to be positioned in parallelism with 'the active faces of the fixed electrodes, as it successively confronts the latter during its rotation.

The invention is capable of use in ignition systems where the movable electrode successively moves into close proximity to, but does not actually engage, the xed electrodes, It provides lor the maintenance of uniform gaps between the movable electrode and the fixed electrodes. It also provides compensation for wear of the electrodes, and hence provides for gaps that will .not burn away due to sparking and become greater than the desired predetermined length.

The invention is also adapted for use where Contact between the movable electrode and each xed electrode is desired, as for example, in an ignition system oi the type disclosed in the application of Kenneth A. Harmon and Allen L. Brownlee, filed December '7, 1944, under Serial No. 567,092, and assigned to the assignee of the present application. In this system, a capacitor is discharged through the primary of a spark plug, transformer to induce in the secondary a high tension, high frequency current to produce the ignition spark, The capacitor discharge is at relatively low tension and the timing of the discharges from the capacitor is effected by the distributor. The invention provides for accuracy of engagement between the movable and xed electrodes and also provides for accuracy in the timing of the discharges from the capacitor, as will hereinafter appear.

This invention has for an object to provide a different structure for accomplishing the desired results, above set forth, and a structure, which is somewhat simpler and less expensive to manufacturev and is perhaps better adapted for use in distributors of relatively small size than the structure of the rst-named prior application.

Y More particularly, the invention has for an object-an arrangement of the guiding means for the movableA electrode in inner and outer parts,`

2 s which are located on opposite sides of such electrode, with at least two of the supporting brushes for the movable electrode riding on one part and at least one riding on the other part-the whole f affording a three point support for the movable electrode.

A further object of the invention is to utiliz as the inner part of the aforesaid guiding means, the central electrode, which makes electrical contact with the inner end of the distributor finger carrying the rotatable electrode and which is fixed in position vfor the guiding function.

' The invention will be disclosed with reference y to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. l'is an elevational View, with parts in section, of a distributor embodying the invention;

" Figs. 2 and 3 are cross sectional views taken on the lines 2--2 and 3-3, respectively, of Fig. l; and

vFigl is a fragmentary view, taken similarly to Fig. 1 and showing amodication. i

`Referring toV these drawings; there is shown in Fig.V 1 a portion of the housing of an ignition apparatus, which may for example be constructed as disclosed in the copending application of Sidney K. Smart and Allen L, Brownlee, led April 18, 1946, under Serial No. 653,098, and assigned to the assignee of the present application. Thev portion of the housing shown includes a main casing I and a cover 2. These have been broken open to reveal the distributor, which forms the subject matter of this invention.

The cover 2 has fixed thereto, as by screws 3, a support 4 for an annular ring 5 of insulating material. This ring carries a plurality of fixed electrodesG, which are arranged around the axis of the ring (Fig. 2) and, in this case, equally spaced in a circular series coaxial with the ring. These electrodes may be fastened to the ring in any suitable way. As shown in Fig. 2, each electrode Ii consists of a rectangular strip of suitable hard metal, such as tungsten, for example, set into the head T of a rivet 8 (see also Fig. l). Each rivet 8 passes through ring 5 and a conducting strip 9 and is headed over against such strip, whereby the electrodes are held to the ring. Each strip 9 is connected by a screw I 0 to a metal insert II in the support 4, whereby the ringv5 isheld to support 4, These several inserts are connected to the distribution wires I2 in the usual or any suitable manner (not shown). The support -4 also has xed therein a metal insert I3, whichfislocated coaxially of ring 5 and which hasf--iixedinsits outer end an electrode .I-4, fsuch' for example as a brush of carbon graphite or other suitable material.

In this particular case, the center electrode I4 is part of the discharge circuit of a capacitor, contained in support 4, and the other fixed electrodes S are adapted to be connected one to each to the primaries of spark plug transformers, all as shown in said application. The capacitor discharges successively through said primaries. The distributor serves t time as well as distribute the discharges. The capacitor is charged to a voltage of about 1500 and the current flow through each discharge circuit is relatively heavy, say

around 200 amperes.

The casing I has fixed therein a frame I5, in

which is mounted a shaft IE, carrying a drive. The frame also has fixed therein a.

pinion |l. stud I8 for supporting the rotatable elements of the distributor. Mounted on stud- I8 is a gear I9, which is driven by pinion I'I and to which is xed a distributor arm 2S, made of suitable insulating material. Carried by arm 29 is a conducting strip, or distributor nger 2|, which at its inner end electrically connects with the described xed center electrode |4 and which carries an electrode 22 arranged to successively move into confronting relation with the fixed electrodes 6. The movable electrode 22 may be constructed in the same way as the fixed electrodes 6 and it may be secured to its finger 2| in the same way that the electrodes 6 are xed to ring 5.

According to this invention, the distributor member 2| is mounted on the arm 20 with full freedom to be moved in any direction that may be necessary to enable the active and outer end face oi the movable electrode 22 to be brought into parallelism with the active and end face of each fixed electrode 5, as it successively confronts the same. This member 2| must be free to rock, within limits, in any direction, as if on a ball and socket joint. And it must also be free to move toward and away from the nxed electrodes 6 in a general direction parallel to its axis of rotation. One way of accomplishing the results desired, is to mount the finger 2| loosely on the shank of a stud 23, which is fixed to and projects from the arm 2), and to provide a flat spring 24, which is also mounted on stud 23, for pressing the linger outwardly and away from the arm. The finger 2| will also nt between two parallel outstanding ribs 25 on arm one of which will engage and drive the finger. There is enough clearance between the finger 2| and ribs 25 so that the nnger can freely move in any of the directions necessary. It will be clear that the member 2| can yield axially inward relatively to stud 23 and that it can rock relatively thereto so that the plane in which the member 2l is located may lie at various angles other than right angles to the axis of the stud 23. The member 2| can wobble on the stud 23 and it is fully free within ample limits to assume positions in planes at variance With the plane in which the outer face of its supporting member 2i) is located. v

The positioning of the member 2| is controlled by a plurality of brushes on the member riding on suitable guiding means. As shown, these means comprise an outer part--and annular track 2t on ring -and an inner part-the outer end face of the fixed central electrode I4. AV brush 21 nxed on the inner end of finger 2| lies coaxially, and engages the outer end face, of elec trode I4. Two brushes 28, fixed one to each of `shown in Fig. 1, the brushes 2l and 28 and the movable electrode 22 are nished so that their outerfaces lie in one common plane. Also, the outer faces of the xed electrodes B and I4 are made to lie in the same plane as track 26. Thus, when the parts are assembled, the outer end face of the movable electrode 22 will lie in the saine i plane as that in which the outer end faces of the xed electrodes 6 lie and the movable electrode will successively engage each fixed electrode accurately and squarely.

Actual contact of the movable electrode 22 with each fixed electrode 8 is not essential in all cases. It is desirable in an ignition system of the type disclosed in the second-named application because distribution is at relatively low voltage, and

ecause the distributor serves also to time the electrical discharges. However, even in such case, it is possible to have a small gap of a few thousandths of an inch between the plane in which the outer end face of the movable electrode is located and that in which the outer end faces of the fixed electrodes are located. The invention can also be used in a system, where distribution is at high voltage and a substantial gap exists between the movable and each fixed electrode, as they move into confronting relation. Fig. 4 shows such an arrangement. This figure is exactly like Fig. l except for the presence of the gap described. Corresponding parts in Figs. 1 and 4 have been given the same reference numerals. In the arrangement of Fig. 4, the outer end faces of the brushes 27 and 2S will be finished at one time to lie in one common plane and the outer end ci the movable electrode will be nnished at the same time to lie in a parallel and adjacent plane separated from the first plane by the length of gap desired. The outer end face of the center electrode and track 2d will lie in the same plane as before.

The invention provides a mounting of the movable electrode on its supporting driving member 28, such as to enable, within ample limits, univer- Vsal movement of such electrode relatively to such member. Hence, the electrode is free to move into whatever plane is ncessary for the purpose. Such plane is determined by the stationary guiding means-the track 2S and center electrode Illand the brushes 2l and 28, which are resiliently pressed against the guiding means, furnish a three point support from the predetermined plane of the guiding means to locate the active outer end face of the movable electrode in such plane or in a plane parallel therewith.

I claim:

1. In a distributor, a rotatable driving member, a plurality of fix-ed electrodes disposed around-the axis of revolution of said member and each having 'an active face, an element rotatably driven by said member, an electrode fixed to said element and having an active face adapted to successively move into confronting relation with'the active faces of the xed electrodes during rotation of said member, said element being mounted to float on its driving member with freedom to be adjustably moved as may be necessary to enable the active face of the rotatable electrode to freely move into parallelism with the active faces of the fixed electrodes as it successively confronts the same, a plurality of brushes fixed to said element, fixed guiding means on which said brushes ride including inner and outer parts with at least one of the brushes riding on one part and at least two of the brushes riding on the other part, and resilient means for moving said element to press the brushes against the parts on which they ride, whereby to cause the active face of the rotatable electrode as it moves into confronting relation with the active faces of the fixed electrodes to be positioned in parallelism therewith.

2. In a distributor, a rotatable driving member, a plurality of fixed electrodes disposed around the axis of revolution of said member and each having an active face, an element rotatably driven by said member, an electrode fixed to said element and having an active face adapted to successively move into confronting relation with the active faces of the xed electrodes during rotation of said member, said element being mounted to float on its driving member with freedom to be adjustably moved as may be necessary to enable the active face of the rotatable electrode to freely move into parallelism with the active faces of the fixed electrodes as it confronts the same, a plurality of brushes fixed to said element, fixed guiding means on which said brushes ride, said means including a xed electrode located at said axis and on which one brush rides and by which electrical connection is made to the movable electrode, said means also including a circular track on which two other brushes ride, and resilient means for moving said element to press said brushes against their respective guiding means, whereby to cause the active face of the rotatable electrode as itsuccessively moves into confronting relation with the active faces of the fixed electrodes to be positioned in parallelism therewith.

3. In a distributor, a rotatable driving member, a plurality of xed electrodes disposed around the axis of revolution of said member and each having an exposed active face, an element rotatably driven by said member, an electrode fixed to said element and having an active face adapted to successively move into confronting relation with the active faces of the fixed electrodes during rotation of said member, said element being mounted to float on its driving member with freedom to be adjustably moved as may be necessary to enable the active face of the rotatable electrode to freely move into parallelism with the active faces of the fixed electrodes as it successively confronts the same, a plurality of brushes fixed to said element one at the axis of revolution of the movable electrode and two located radially beyond the movable electrode and on opposite sides of a radius passing through the movable electrode, a central fixed guide engaged by the first-named brush, a fixed track surrounding the central guide and on which the two last-named brushes ride, resilient means for moving said element to press the first brush against the central guide and the other brushes against the track, whereby to cause the active face of the rotatable electrode as it successively movesl into confronting relation with the active faces of the fixed electrodes to be positioned in parallelism therewith.

4. In a distributor, a rotatable driving member, a plurality of fixed electrodes disposed around the axis of revolution of said member and each having an active face, a stationary guide consisting of a circular track located coaxially of said member, another guide located at said axis, an element driven by said member and mounted thereon for universal movement within a limited range with respect thereto, said element engaged at one point with the central guide and at two points with the other guide, and resilient means for holding said element engaged with said guide at said points, whereby to cause the active face of the movable electro-de as it successively moves into confronting relation with the active faces of the fixed electrodes to be positioned in parallelism therewith.

5. A distributor, comprising, a rotatable arm having on one face two outstanding ribs paralleling a radius of the arm and a stud located between the ribs and radially spaced from the axis of revolution of the arm, a plate-like element loosely mounted on said stud and between said ribs, a plurality of fixed electrodes arranged around said axis and each having an exposed active face, an electrode fixed to said element and having an active face adapted to be successively moved into confronting relation with the active faces of the fixed electrodes, resilient means between said arm and element for pressing the latter toward said faces of said fixed electrodes, a fixed stationary electrode located at said axis and electrically connecting with said element and the movable electrode thereon, a stationary circular track located coaxially of the arm, 9, central brush fixed to the inner end of said element and bearing on the fixed central electrode, and two brushes carried by said element and located radially beyond the movable electrode and angularly spaced therefrom and riding on said track.

KENNETH A. HARMON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,251,249 Lehman Dec. 25, 1917 1,492,037 Larison Apr. 29, 1924 

